Calling all innovators! NIU launches National Academy of Inventors chapter

DEKALB, IL - There's more to it, of course, but the basic formula for inventions might be broken down into two pieces: build on prior knowledge and apply it in a new way.

The recent formation of the Northern Illinois University chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) recently emerged along those same lines. The spark was Dave Grewell, dean of the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.

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Grewell, who has secured 18 patents during his 35-year career spanning private industry and academia, brought his previous NAI involvement with him to NIU in July 2023. Ever since, he's been interested in getting an NIU chapter off the ground with an active leadership team.

"This is a great way to assemble some of the remarkable minds here at Northern Illinois and shine a light on the contributions they have made and are making," said Grewell. "We want to inspire each other as well as the rest of the NIU community to keep moving forward with innovation."

The NIU group held its inaugural meeting on March 20. Electrical Engineering Associate Professor Venu Korampally is the chapter president, while Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Tao Xu is its vice president and Grewell serves as secretary.

The group's two other members are Electrical Engineering Professor Lichuan Liu, who also serves as the interim director of CEET's biomedical engineering program; and Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Timothy Hagen.

All have already joined the ranks of inventors with a variety of patents, each sharing a passion to help others.

For example, Liu holds multiple patents, including some groundbreaking ones on noise cancellation and wireless communication systems for infant incubators. Her work, in collaboration with Invictus Medical and supported by federal grants, led to the development of Neoasis, a Food and Drug Administration-approved solution that enhances neonatal care by reducing harmful noise in incubators and fosters stronger parent-infant bonding.

In a career that includes about 20 years at Pfizer, Hagen holds over 50 patents and patent applications, spanning treatments for infectious diseases, central nervous system disorders, inflammatory conditions, and agricultural pest management. One of his inventions is now undergoing advanced clinical trials as a potential treatment for Fragile X syndrome and Alzheimer's disease.

Among those present at the inaugural meeting were NIU Provost Laurie Elish-Piper and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Robert Brinkmann.

Elish-Piper applauded the group's efforts, noting that they align with NIU's commitment to innovation and serve as a key element in economic development through the creation of new industries and employment opportunities.

"The formation of this new group bolsters our ongoing commitment to innovation at NIU in accordance with university goals, and we look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead as part of this initiative," Elish-Piper said.

"I am so proud of the inventors in this group," said Brinkmann. "They demonstrate how NIU's commitment to transdisciplinary research pays off in the development of innovative ideas that have a true impact on society."

In the NAI, a significant milestone is becoming a member of the NAI Fellows Program, a distinction that Grewell attained in 2019 after being nominated, then approved by a selection committee.

The Fellows Program highlights academic inventors who have "demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society," the NAI states.

"Hopefully we'll have more Fellows and put NIU on a national stage," Korampally said. "It's important to help make people aware of the great things happening here at NIU."

In addition to serving others, inventions are a catalyst for businesses and entire industries. As noted on the NAI website, discoveries by the 2,068 Fellows globally have generated over 20,000 licensed technologies, 4,000 companies, created more than 1.2 million jobs and generated over $3.2 trillion in revenue.

"Curiosity is the driving force in my work," said Xu. "And now with this organization, I'm curious to see how we can translate our inventions into market potential as well."

To learn more about the NIU chapter of the National Academy of Inventors, contact its president, Venu Korampally, at vkorampally@niu.edu .

Media Contact: Matt Baron

About NIU

Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law. The Wall Street Journal and CollegeNET recognize NIU as a leading institution for social mobility, or helping its students climb the socioeconomic ladder. Through its main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Naperville and Rockford, NIU offers more than 100 areas of study while serving a diverse and international student body.